"Hello, Joshua!" said Forrester, and was surprised at the feebleness of his voice when he tried to speak. "What are you doing here?" "Ah belong heah, Boss. Dis am Mistah Bradbury’s house." Forrester was puzzled. He knew that "Mr. Bradbury’s house" was where Mary Sturtevant lived. "How did I get here, Joshua?" he inquired. "Ah guess de hants done got yo’, Boss. Mah Missey an’ me done fine yo’ layin’ in de road in front of dat tree wif a rubber t’ing in yo’ han’." "A rubber thing?" exclaimed Forrester. "What do you mean?" "Ah dunno what it is, Boss." "Where is it now?" asked Forrester. "We-all done got it downstairs, Boss. Ah’ll get it and show yo’." Joshua left the room. He returned presently with a large, circular piece of rubber which he placed in Forrester’s hands. Forrester examined it carefully. He found that it was flexible, somewhat oval in form, and concave. At the back a piece of light rubber tubing, about one foot in length, was attached. Forrester placed the rubber over his face for a moment and found that its form made it fit like a mask. He withdrew it hastily when he heard an exclamation at his side. It was Mary Sturtevant, and as Forrester glanced up he saw her looking at him with startled eyes. "Joshua!" she cried, turning to the negro, "how did Mr. Forrester get that?" "Ah done brung it to him, mam." The girl seized the piece of rubber from Forrester and handing it to Joshua, directed, "Take it away instantly, Joshua. Put it in my room." "Yassum!" and Joshua darted out of the room, mumbling to himself. The events of the night came back to Forrester quite clearly now. "Was that the thing my assailant used on me last night?" he asked, looking up at the girl. "Yes," she returned, "but you mustn’t talk about it." "But I want to talk about it," he exclaimed. "And I want it for evidence!" "Robert," she said seriously, "you must not tell a soul about what happened last night, or refer to that piece of rubber. It is absolutely vital that you do this for me. Please promise." "I’ll consider it," he said, "if you will tell me the whole story of what happened." "I am willing to tell you that," she returned, "but first you must have your breakfast. I can tell you the story while you are eating. It is very short." She left the room, returning in a few minutes with a tray. After assisting Forrester to sit up in bed, and arranging the pillows at his back, she placed the tray in his lap. As he ate, she explained to him what had happened. "After you left, I stood on the steps listening to the hum of your engine as you drove away. I was worried, Robert, to think of your recklessness in driving around alone at night under the present circumstances. Suddenly, I heard a report like a pistol shot, and as I could no longer hear the sound of your engine, I feared that something had happened to you.